Get all your travel tips and recommendations as I show you how to spend 48 hours in Barcelona...
La Sagrada Familia, from La Plaça de Gaudí
During our stay in Barcelona we were fortunate enough to be staying in the Hotel Ayre Rosello, which is located opposite La Sagrada Familia, so the views were incredible. Head to the rooftop bar (which is what many people do, you can go there even if you're not a client of the hotel), and enjoy the panorama of La Sagrada Familia. The hotel itself cost approximately €250 for 3 nights for 2 people, so for the location where it is the price wasn't too bad.
Photos courtesy of the Ayre Hotel Rossello
Of course the first place on the agenda was visiting La Sagrada Familia itself! In case you didn't know, La Sagrada Familia is a one of a kind temple, that has taken more than 135 years to construct. Work originally started from the designs dating back to 1882. It was only a year later that the lead architect Antoni Gaudí took over and designed the masterpiece that is being created today. In his lifetime unfortunately Gaudí never saw the completion of the Basilica, but he will always be remembered for his work. Anyway, when you visit La Sagrada Familia make sure you appreciate it from all angles, opposite you can visit La Plaça de Gaudí which is a great place to view the temple. If you're interested in visiting make sure you reserve in advance and book tickets to enter inside. A ticket will set you back €26 which in my opinion is a little overpriced, but it is something you have to do once in your lifetime - I must admit I have never seen something so colourful. You can download and listen to a free audioguide which will take you on a tour for about 45 minutes, or you can go around at your own accord.
Click on the link to book your tickets now: https://sagradafamilia.org/en/tickets
Inside La Sagrada Familia
Antoni Gaudi is not just famous for La Sagrada Familia, there are many other buildings designed by him, in Barcelona you can find many. In particular you can find Casa Vicens, Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, Casa Amatlla and many others...
Casa Vicens was actually the first house designed by Gaudí and is considered the first of his 10 major works in Barcelona. Tickets cost €16 and tours can take 60-90 minutes... Casa Vicens Gaudí | Gaudí's first house in Barcelona
Casa Milà, popularly known as La Pedrera or "The stone quarry", was actually the last private residence designed by Gaudí. Ticket prices start from €24... Casa Mila (La Pedrera) | Gaudí Building in Barcelona
Casa Batllo is considered one of his masterpieces and is one of the most famous houses that he has designed. Tickets start from €35 and the tour takes approx 1hr 15mins... Casa Batlló | Antoni Gaudí Modernist Museum in Barcelona (casabatllo.es)
Casa Amatller was the first modernist house that revolutionised the Paseo de Gracia in Barcelona. Tickets cost €15 and tours last 1 hour... Museuamatller
(Left) Casa Mila (Centre) Casa Vicens (Right) Casa Batllo
Another one of the greatest attractions in Barcelona is Parc Güell, a park devoted entirely to Gaudí, and one of the most famous places and most beautiful icons of the city. You can enjoy a fantastic green walk surrounded by modernist works and wonderful views of the city. You can either book online (likewise for all attractions in Barcelona), or simply turn up and purchase one at the ticket office; tickets to enter the park cost €10.
Official website Park Güell | Barcelona | Web oficial Park Güell | Barcelona (parkguell.barcelona)
Pay €12 and take the Funicular Cuca De Llum up to the summit of Mount Tibidabo and visit the Temple of the Scared Heart of Jesus, a basilica that overlooks the city of Barcelona. To my surprise entry into the temple was actually free! However you could pay €3 if you really wanted to go up the towers (many attractions in Barcelona seem to be very overpriced). Generally the temple is open from 11:00-20:00, depending on the season you visit it could be a great place to watch the sun set over the city from up above... Head back downtown and take a stroll to Cuitadella Park. The Parc de la Ciutadella is very idyllic, invites you to relax, and you can also use a rowing boat out on the lake. You can't visit this park without entering through the Arc de Triunfo; it was built as the gateway into the park when Barcelona hosted the World Universal Exhibition fair in 1888.
You can't visit Barcelona without checking out the Gothic Quarter of the city, narrow medieval streets filled with trendy bars, clubs and Catalan restaurants. The Gothic Quarter area is the first choice for many visitors to Barcelona, it is the cultural hub of the city and suitable for any type of traveller. Whilst you're here make sure you visit the Basílica of Santa Maria del Mar, Basílica de Santa Maria del Pi, Plaça Reial, and the Cathedral of Barcelona. Many people just consider La Sagrada Familia as the main attraction and tend to forget about the original existing cathedral (may I add that it is fully built since the 13th Century ;) ...tickets cost €9 and includes access to the roof of the Cathedral where you can enjoy the many panoramas of the city.
Click on the link below:
(Left) Cathedral of Barcelona (Centre) El Pont del Bisbe - Bishop’s Bridge, (Right) Church of Santa Àgueda
Finally on the list is Montjuïc: a hill overlooking the harbour, to the southwest of the city centre. Located on top of the hill is Montjuïc Castle, an old military fortress which used to serve as a prison. In order to get up to the top of Montjuïc you can take the cable car, it costs €13.50 for a return ticket but gives you the chance to spot emblematic landmarks, such as La Sagrada Família and the Agbar Tower, along with great views of the port. Entry into the castle also costs €5 if you really wish to, but after spending all that money to go up to the top and to come back down, it seems quite a lot - you can still appreciate it from the outside. Stop off at the Palau Nacional and enjoy great views towards Plaça d'Espanya and the two towering Venecian Towers.
You can find information and purchase your tickets for the Castle and for the Teleferico here:
(Left) Teleferico de Montjuïc (Centre) Palau Nacional (Right) Torres Venecianes
All of this and more I managed to do in 48 hours, these were just some of the highlights. In Barcelona there are many things to do, and I'm sure there are more things that I need to go back and see.
Until next time!
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